Phthalates represent endocrine disrupting chemicals, with harmful effect on the hormonal balance
of the human body. Food is a substantial source of exposure to phthalates. The aim of study was to
investigate association between phthalate exposure of children and their parents from Slovakia (children
n = 51, parents n = 27) and their consumer practices. We analysed urine samples by high performance
liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to determine concentrations
of phthalate metabolites monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP), mono-n-buthyl
phthalate (MnBP), mono-iso-buthyl phthalate (MiBP), monocyclo-hexyl phthalate (MCHP), mono(2-
ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-
5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) and mono(2-
carboxymethylhexyl) phthalate (McMHP), mono-n-octyl phthalate (MnOP) and mono-isononyl
phthalate (MiNP). We observed significantly higher concentrations of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
(DEHP) metabolites and MiBP in children in comparison with parents (p≤0.05). We found statistically
significant association between concentrations of some phthalates and consumption of food packed in
the plastic containers, drinking of milk and strongest association was detected between consumption of
sliced salami in a plastic package and concentrations of all DEHP metabolites (p≤0.05). We concluded
that consumption of the fat rich food stored in the plastic containers together with socioeconomic status
and age could affect urinary concentration of phthalate metabolites.